Car Lingo: Understanding the Difference Between a Coupe and Sedan

Anyone who has searched for vehicles knows that there is a lot of lingo thrown around in the industry, including the words coupe and sedan. Though most people assume they are the same, there are in fact some important distinctions to make between the two.

According to Automoblog, most people either assume that coupes and sedans are the same, or that one has two doors and the other has four. While this is a safe assumption, there are some brands that showcase “four-door coupes,” so we know that’s not quite true. What is the difference between a coupe and sedan?

The technical term for a coupe is a closed-body style that has at least two seats, but no more than four, and has 33 cu ft of rear interior volume. Any more and it’s technically a sedan. Coupes are usually two-door models, because there is little room in the back, and they come with either two seats, or four seats in a 2 x 2 configuration.

A sedan is a fixed-top car that has more than 33 cu ft of rear interior volume, and often has four doors. Most can fit four or five in a sedan comfortably, and they almost always have more room than a coupe.

What’s right for you? If you like sleek sporty models, check out coupes. If you like more room for family and friends, a sedan might be the way to go.